Cartridge-crimper



(No Model.)

E. A. FRANKLIN. CARTRIDGE GRIMPEB..

170.417,673. Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

l e mmm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDlVARD A. FRANKLIN, OF BREN HAM, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO BAILEY, FARRELL daCOMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CARTRIDGE-CRIMPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,673, dated December1'7, 1889.

Application filed July 5, 1888. Renewed September 24, 1889. Serial No.324,885. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. FRANKLIN, of Brenham, in the county ofIVashngton and State of Texas, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Cartridge-Crimpers3 and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, inwhich- Figure l is a plan view of my improved eartridge-crimper. Fig. 2is a longitudinal sectional view on the line of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal longitudinal section on the line 'yy of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is anend view. Fig. 5 is an end view of a modified form. Fig. 6 is a similarView showing a modified form of the indenting-head of the tweezer-jaws.Fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal section on the line z z of Figs. 5 and(5, showing the operation of crimping a cartridge.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

My invention relates to improved devices for crimping cartridge-shells,so as to retain the load within the same.

In the drawings, a b represent the arms of the crimping-tweezers, whichare pivoted at the point c and are provided with a spring d. The jaws ofthese tweezers at their outer ends are provided with projecting heads e,having' inclined biting-faces extending in opposite directions. Situatebetween the jaws of the tweezers is the shell-holder 71, having aslightlyflaring mouth and openings in the sides opposite thebiting-heads of the tweezer-jaws. This shell-holder is piwoted to thebody of the tweezers, and is provided with' a central core i, of lessdiameter than the interior of the shell-holder, so that when the shellis placed within the holder the core shall fit within the interior ofthe shell. Situated centrally within the head of the core i is a springprinting-stamp k, the purpose of which is to stamp or letter the outerwad of the cartridge.

Secured to one side of the shell-holder h is a springknife m, adjustably fitted in a slot in the'holder by means of a set-screw n. pointof this knife is situated directly opposite an opening in theshell-holder at or about the top of the central core. The purpose ofthis knife is to cutoff the end of I[he shell above the crim ping-point.

The operation of my improved device is as follows: A cartridge havingbeen loaded is placed mouth downward in the shell-holder, the core/Lfitting within the shell. By closing the arms and jaws of the tweezersthe biting-heads e indent the shell directly above the upper Wad. Bythen vturning the shell the indenture made is extended so as to form acrease of the desired length. At the same time the printing-stamp formsthe desired character or letter on tte face of the upper wad.

I am aware that cartridges have been crimped by indeuting and creasingthe same above the wad, and I do not desire to claim the same, broadly;but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. In a tool for crimping cartridges, the combination of tweezers havingindenting-jaws, a central core, and an adjustable knife for cutting theend of the shell, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. As an improved article of manufact-ure, a cartridge-crimper comprisin g tweezers havingbiting-heads, an interposed core andprinting-stamp arranged within said core, a shellholder surroundingthe'core, and a trimmingknife, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day ot' June,A. I). 1888.

EDWARD A. FRANKLIN. lVitnesses:

W. B. CORWIN, J. K. SMITH.

TheI

